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Sarah
Oct 14, 2008 18:57:10 GMT -5
Post by Jackie on Oct 14, 2008 18:57:10 GMT -5
Now that I have your attention...LOL...did anyone see the spot on NBC with Palin and kids with DS? I thought it was really nice but I have a question...has anyone ever heard her say 'Down syndrome'? And this made me wonder if any of you had trouble saying it the first time. I notice she always just says 'special needs' child. I am thinking this is still new and maybe somewhat difficult for her.
Jackie
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Sarah
Oct 14, 2008 19:42:52 GMT -5
Post by Chris on Oct 14, 2008 19:42:52 GMT -5
I think she is trying to be inclusive of all children with special needs. At one time, I did hear her say she wanted to find the cure for autism. I think she is just trying to reach out to all parents of kids with special needs. At least she is trying to get their vote! I have found many parents on the web who don't like using the term Down syndrome and only say T21. I don't have any problem saying Down syndrome because that is what most people understand. Chris
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Sarah
Oct 14, 2008 20:57:19 GMT -5
Post by laurasmom on Oct 14, 2008 20:57:19 GMT -5
Yes, for about the first year of Laura's life, I did have trouble saying Down Syndrome. I can't really recall a "moment" when all of a sudden, I could say it, just came sort of gradually.
I agree with Chris, I think she is being inclusive of all children with special needs, however, her son is about 4-5 months old? It wouldn't surprize me if she is having difficulty, and I can totally understand.
Sharon
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Sarah
Oct 14, 2008 21:09:36 GMT -5
Post by Jessie on Oct 14, 2008 21:09:36 GMT -5
Jackie - I had that exact same thought when I watched that tonight . . . she doesn't ever say Down syndrome. Could be she's trying to be all-inclusive from a political standpoint, hard to say.
Jessie
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Sarah
Oct 15, 2008 4:57:56 GMT -5
Post by Ericsmomma on Oct 15, 2008 4:57:56 GMT -5
I think she's trying to be all inclusive.. Are you talking about the interview with the Mom and her little guy (about 15m. old) at the Palin rally? The family had a huge sign in the crowd that said " Down Syndrome Blessed", and Sarah had the Secret service guys find the family and met with them. She was holding the little boy and really seemed taken with him. The Mom said she felt like she had a bond with her. It was a really nice clip. Fox News interviewed the Mom and her son. (he was so cute, and VERY active during the interview.
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Sarah
Oct 15, 2008 9:02:12 GMT -5
Post by ALLISA on Oct 15, 2008 9:02:12 GMT -5
I saw a little clip this morning on the Today show.....I thought it was going to be longer or more involved...but it was nice...a family ( all in yellow T's) got to meet her after a rally..... I also think she keeps saying "special needs" so that she is "bonding" with more parents than just those who have DS in their lives. She is going to be in Salem New Hampshire tonight ( which is only about 10 minutes from me )....I toyed with going.....but probably won't......Erin would probably just pull her hair !! ;D
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Sarah
Oct 15, 2008 9:18:15 GMT -5
Post by Jackie on Oct 15, 2008 9:18:15 GMT -5
I agree that she is trying to be inclusive...but she still always refers to herself as having a 'special needs' child...never a child with Down syndrome...almost like she hasn't really faced it. Even in the interviews about being diagnosed in utero...she says "special needs". Somehow I would just like to hear HER say those words. I have never thought of Down syndrome as a negative term...maybe that's because Em came along just as we were trying to wipe out the "M" word. I know I fought the words mental retardation for a long time and chose to say developmental disablity. ..and then grew comfortable speaking of mental retardation. But have never had trouble saying Down syndrome. I just haven't thought about it being a problem for people.
This is all rather unimportant in the scope of the positive effect she is having on the issues of special needs...just found it interesting.
Jackie
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Sarah
Oct 15, 2008 15:51:52 GMT -5
Post by andrewsmom on Oct 15, 2008 15:51:52 GMT -5
Maybe if you search the net...I could have sworn when her son was first born she aired a commercial where she "introduced" him to Alaska. I think she talks about him having Down Syndrome in that commercial. Did anyone see it? I will look some more.
I ....like most here....think she's just trying to reach out to other families of special needs and not just the DS community...kwim?
I'll keep looking for you. -Trisha
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Sarah
Oct 15, 2008 16:02:16 GMT -5
Post by sd112170 on Oct 15, 2008 16:02:16 GMT -5
John and Trig are very close in age. So I think she is just now getting used to the idea. With the rocky start John had, I didn't have time to worry about the why's and what if's. It has just now settled with me. I can imagine her schedule is crazy. But I do know, every parent crosses that road. She does seem prepared for the why's and what if's. I like the connections we as ds parents have. I just hope she has a network she can connect with. It would be cool if she knew about unomas.
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Sarah
Oct 15, 2008 16:49:54 GMT -5
Post by momofrussell on Oct 15, 2008 16:49:54 GMT -5
I think I say special needs now more and I said DS more when Russell was little. But who knows why she says it.... I could only assume that it's more for unity like mentioned... like speaking to everyone that has children w/spec needs....
A.
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Sarah
Oct 15, 2008 19:16:41 GMT -5
Post by CC on Oct 15, 2008 19:16:41 GMT -5
I think just the fact that she is running for office and out in the public she has to be "politically correct" and my guess, but just a guess is in private she probably has no problem saying DS. She is trying to reach families of ones with special needs ALL special needs, so would make sense why she would word it that way in public. For me I had never had a problem saying DS CC ~
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Sarah
Oct 17, 2008 12:35:17 GMT -5
Post by wrblack on Oct 17, 2008 12:35:17 GMT -5
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Sarah
Oct 17, 2008 23:28:28 GMT -5
Post by victoriasdad on Oct 17, 2008 23:28:28 GMT -5
well i just want to interject a mans point of view on all this sarah palin controversy, if alaska is so cold how in the world did they get such a hot govenor?
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Sarah
Oct 18, 2008 3:33:20 GMT -5
Post by Jessie on Oct 18, 2008 3:33:20 GMT -5
Geez, you sound like my husband!!! LOL
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Sarah
Oct 18, 2008 8:50:11 GMT -5
Post by Danielle on Oct 18, 2008 8:50:11 GMT -5
Just my humble opinion but the term "special needs" is being used because that's what her political advisors tell her to say to be more inclusive of a larger community. It's all about gaining support to win, so her words are very carefully chosen for her. Also, does it bother anyone else that the whole concept of her relating to all of us parents of kids with special needs and her "understanding these issues more than most" as McCain said during the debat seems to me to be a bit of a stretch!! Her baby is five months old...how much did any of us know or understand when our kid was just five months old? KWIM? Makes me a little cynical I guess....
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